Family SCYPHACIDAE Dana, 1852

Scyphax crescentia

© Copyright from Lewis 1998.

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Introduction

The Scyphacidae are supralittoral isopods with most of the genera present in the Southern Hemisphere. Haloniscus, with four Australian species is found in saline groundwater.

Actaecia was placed in its own family, Actaecidae, by Vandel (1952), a view followed by Lewis & Green (1994). Schmidt (2002) synonymised Actaeciidae with Scyphacidae, restricting the Scyphacidae to Scyphax, Actaecia and Haloniscus. Schmalfuss (2003) included six genera in family.

Vandel (1964) claimed that there are pseudotracheae in the pleopods of Actaecia. Erhard (1995), however, stated that Actaecia have no lungs, although his figures of A. bipleura (named here as A. pallida) show respiratory areas in its pleopodal exopods. The difference in interpretation of the pleopods needs to be resolved.

Diagnosis

Dorsal surface of body shallowly convex. In most genera the animal does not conglobate; some species of Armadilloniscus can conglobate imperfectly, but they lack endolobes (articulatory lobes) on the pereon. Head usually with supra-antennal line present. Antenna 2 flagellum with 3 or 4 articles. Maxillipedal palp much larger than endite, often with 5 articles evident. Dactylar organ present on each pereopod in most genera but may be absent in Scyphax. Without pleopodal lungs.

General References

Dana, J.D. 1852. On the classification of the Crustacea Choristopoda or Tetradecapoda. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 14(41): 297-316

Erhard, F. 1995. Vergleichend- und funktionell- anatomische Untersuchungen am Pleon der Oniscidea (Crustacea, Isopoda). Zugleich ein Beitrag zur phylogenetischen Systematik der Landasseln. Zoologica (Stuttgart) 145: 1-114

Lewis, F. & Green, A.J.A. 1994. Four new species of Actaeciidae (Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Australia, with a review of the family. Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 1421-1442

Schmalfuss, H. 2003. World catalog of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie) 654: 1-341

Schmidt, C. 2002. Contribution to the phylogenetic system of the Crinochaeta (Crustacea, Isopoda), Part 1. (Olibrinidae to Scyphacidae s. str.). Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 78: 275-352

Vandel, A. 1952. Les Trichoniscides (Crustacés, Isopodes) de l'hémisphère austral, leur place systématique, leur interêt biogéographique. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] (A) Zoologie 6: 1-116

Vandel, A. 1964. La place du genre Actaecia Dana dans le sous-ordre des Oniscoidea (Isopodes terrestres). Crustaceana 6: 161-174

History of changes